HIStory: A Chronological Journey Through the Bible: Recent Episodes
Pastor Ryan Johnson
The Bible is a big book. Is it telling a lot of small stories or one big story? In this message series, we take one book or section of books per week to understand how they all fit together to put God’s glory and power on display through Israel, Jesus, and the church.
John sees visions of things that have been, things that are, and things that are yet to come.
John writes a letter to Christians about keeping Jesus’ commands, loving one another, and important things they should know. Then two more letters about walking in truth, love, obedience, and fellowship with other believers.
A letter encouraging Christians to cling to Christ despite persecution because he is greater.
Peter writes to Christians who are being persecuted, encouraging them to testify to the truth and live accordingly.
Paul advises Titus on how to lead orderly, counter-cultural churches on the island of Crete.
Paul gives his protegé Timothy instruction on how to lead a church with sound teaching and a godly example.
An encouraging letter to the church of Philippi from Paul, telling them how to have joy in Christ.
While encouraging unity in a church he visited (Ephesus) and steadfastness in a church he did not (Colossae), Paul invites Philemon to show how the Gospel transforms relationships.
Paul summarizes how the gospel of Jesus works in a letter to the churches at Rome, where he plans to visit.
Paul writes a letter of reconciliation to the church at Corinth, and clears up some concerns that they have.
Paul writes a disciplinary letter to a fractured church in Corinth, and answers some questions that they’ve had about how Christians should behave.
Paul has heard a good report on the church at Thessalonica, and encourages them to “excel still more” in faith, hope, and love while standing firm until the return of Christ.
A letter encouraging Christians to content for the faith, even though ungodly persons have crept in unnoticed.
Paul hears that the Galatian churches have been lead to think that salvation comes from the law of Moses, and writes a (rather heated) letter telling them where the false teachers have it wrong.
Jesus returns to the Father, the Holy Spirit comes to the church, and the gospel of Jesus spreads throughout the world.
John lists stories of signs and miracles with the hope that readers will believe in Jesus.
Luke writes the most thorough account of Jesus’ life, pulling together eyewitness testimonies to tell the full story of Jesus.
This brief account of Jesus’ earthly ministry highlights Jesus’ authority and servanthood.
This is an account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, focusing on Jesus’ role as the true king of the Jews.
Among those exiles who did not return, God showed Himself mighty to protect them and establish them.
God calls His people back to restore the physical kingdom and puts His power on display while using broken leaders.
As the final book of the Hebrew Bible, this repeated history of Israel warns the generation of returned exiles not to make the same mistake of rejecting God as their ancestors did.
The prophet Zechariah calls Israel to return to God, and records prophetic visions that show what’s happening behind the scenes.
The people have abandoned the work of restoring God’s temple in Jerusalem, and so Haggai takes them to task.
God chooses a man to speak for Him to Israel, to tell them the error of their ways and teach them justice: Ezekiel.
God sends a plague of locusts to Judge Israel, but his judgment on the surrounding nations is coming, too.
Daniel becomes a high-ranking wise man in the Babylonian and Persian empires, and has prophetic visions concerning Israel’s future.
Obadiah warns the neighboring nation of Edom that they will be judged for plundering Jerusalem.
God sends a prophet to warn Israel about the coming Babylonian captivity, but the people don’t take the news very well.
God warns that he will judge Israel and the surrounding nations, but also that he will restore them in peace and justice.
Habakkuk pleads with God to stop the injustice and violence in Judah, but is surprised to find that God will use the even more violent Babylonians to do so.
God sends the prophet Isaiah to warn Israel of future judgment—but also to tell them about a coming king and servant who will “bear the sins of many.”
God sends the prophet Isaiah to warn Israel of future judgment—but also to tell them about a coming king and servant who will “bear the sins of many.”
Hosea is told to marry a prostitute who leaves him, and he must bring her back: a picture of God’s relationship with Israel.
A shepherd named Amos preaches against the injustice of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
A disobedient prophet runs from God, is swallowed by a great fish, and then preaches God’s message to the city of Nineveh.
Both kingdoms ignore God and his prophets, until they both fall captive to other world empires.
A love song (or collection of love songs) celebrating love, desire, and marriage...and maybe more.
A philosophical exploration of the meaning of life—with a surprisingly nihilistic tone for the Bible.
A collection of sayings written to help people make wise decisions that bring about justice.
The kingdom of Israel has a time of peace and prosperity under King Solomon, but afterward splits, and the two lines of kings turn away from God.
A collection of 150 songs that Israel sang to God (and to each other)—kind of like a hymnal for the ancient Israelites.
God reluctantly raises up kings to rule the Israelites. The first is a failure, and the second, David, is a somewhat faithful replacement.
Two widows lose everything and find hope in Israel—which leads to the birth of the future King David.
Israel enters a cycle of turning from God, falling captive to oppressive nations, calling out to God, and being rescued by leaders God sends their way (called “judges”).
Joshua (Israel’s new leader) leads Israel to conquer the Promised land, then parcels out territories to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Moses gives Israel instructions (in some ways, a recap of the laws in Exodus–Numbers) for how to love and obey God in the Promised Land.
God saves Israel from slavery in Egypt, and then enters into a special relationship with them.
Satan attacks a righteous man named Job, and Job and his friends argue about why terrible things are happening to him.
The Book of Genesis shows that God is the God of promise & answers two big questions: “How did God’s relationship with the world begin?” and “Where did the nation of Israel come from?”